For so long Brownstown were regarded as the top hurling team in the county. However, the old phrase that 'every dog has it's day' has seen the North Westmeath side bow out of the limelight at adult level, although the blueprint for a return to the glory days is well in place. By Stephen Reilly. The committee's decision a few years back to place a greater emphasis on the club's underage structure has began to pay dividends as the Feile Shield title was annexed during 2005. Brownstown also contested the under-12 final, but were unfortunate to come up against a very strong Castletown-Geoghegan in the decider. The strength of the Black and Ambers was evident as in the build up to the final, they defeated two Kilkenny teams comfortably in challenge matches. The young blues acquitted themselves very well and in a campaign that saw them lose only two matches throughout the campaign, both of which were against Castletown, it shows that this side has the credentials to contest for honours over the next few years. Players like Cormac Foley, Keelan Dillon, Niall Leonard, Stephen White, James Moore and Jack Clancy to name just a few have a great future in the game. These young lads have been well looked after by the likes of Paul Moore, Johnny Leonard, Jim Fitzsimons, Miko Henry and John Smith who deserve great credit for the work they have done at underage level over the past five years. Not since the days of Paddy Monaghan (RIP) has the club been in such a healthy state with the underage teams. The schools team that consisted of the majority of the lads mentioned above went one step further by winning their respective championship following an enthralling encounter with Rochfortbridge played on front of a sizeable crowd in Cusack Park. Brownstown looked dead buried midway through the second half, but excellent performances by Keelan Dillon, Niall Leonard, Cormac Foley and skipper Lorcan O'Toole meant that the blues picked up their first piece of silverware at that level. The Feile Shield final was actually the 2004 competition, but amazingly was not finished until last year. The final is played between the losing semi-finalists of the Feile na nGael competition. Brownstown made their way to the last four of the Feile na nGael courtesy of wins over Turin and Raharney, but in the semi-final, they found Clonkill too strong and they bowed out. Nonetheless, this side had made it further than most of the same age group in the last decade and it was a testimony to the hard working men who looked after the team. This same side played in the Feile na nGael finals that were hosted by Westmeath. Arguably one of the matches of the tournament saw Brownstown lose out narrowly to Derry side Kevin Lynch's, who ironically the blues were hosting. The Derry side went on to win the Division 3 Feile final very comfortably and Brownstown were left wondering what might have been, as they beat they other teams in their group Wolfe Tones and Castleblayney easily. The Meath border club had to wait almost a year before the Feile Shield final was played and in the decider they would meet neighbours and fierce rivals Delvin. McCabe Park, Turin was the venue for the eagerly awaited decider for what turned out to be a hard fought encounter. On front of a large attendance, it was Delvin who made the brighter start when they scored the opening goal of the game after Sam Norton had nearly raised a green flag for the Archerstown blues. Norton and Andrew Noone soon got on top at midfield, but it was half back Seamus McNamee who opened their account with a well-taken point. Norton followed up with a point of his own, before captain Mickey Travers levelled matters with a free after 15 minutes. Brownstown soon took the lead when the inspirational Travers scored a cracking goal. The corner forward drilling the sliothar low past the Delvin goalkeeper. Despite their best efforts to get back into the match, Delvin could not find the target, mainly due to a well marshalled Brownstown defence as Conor Sleator, McNamee, Conor Foley and Emmett Cuneen were outstanding. The last score of the half was for the blues as corner forward Niall Leonard did well to get his strike in under pressure and this left the half time score 1-4 to 1-0 in Brownstown's favour. Once again, Delvin started brightly in the second half and they were soon on level terms as a goal and a point for the maroons brought them right back into the match. This was to be a test of Brownstown's resolve and it was a combination of Sam Norton and Andrew Noone's hard work at midfield that helped produce the blue's second goal of the afternoon. A goal mouth scramble ensued and Conor Duffy who replaced the hard working Richard Shaw at half time flicked the ball to the net to put Brownstown three points in front. Delvin tried in vain to narrow the gap and although they enjoyed the lion's share of the possession, lengthy clearances by Stephen White and Adrian Noone helped ease the pressure. Norton and Andrew Rice scored fine points to increase Brownstown's lead and take some of the pressure of their resolute defence. Another inspirational run by Norton into the heart of the Delvin defence resulted in substitute Ross Daly firing the sliothar into the back of the net. Delvin managed one more point from a free, but it was left to man-of-the match Norton to close the scoring from a free. Overall it was an outstanding performance by this young Brownstown side and after the match, Westmeath minor Board chairman Michael McHugh presented the Shield to skipper Mickey Travers. With the club's under-10 side being successful in a Carlow tournament also, the future of Brownstown hurling looks to be in safe hands. The club has a proud tradition and it gave all members great delight in seeing Billy Foley appointed as the first clubman to become chairman of the Westmeath hurling board. For the first time in over 30 years, Brownstown would not compete in the senior hurling championship. Relegation was the outcome of the 2004 campaign after the club had diced with the drop zone for the past five years. The North Westmeath side were immediately installed as favourites to land the intermediate title at the first time of asking, but as many horse racing followers would acknowledge, the favourite doesn't always win. Life in the intermediate grade could not have gotten off to a better start as St Brigid's were defeated by 2-19 to 3-5. Brownstown conceded two early goals but soon settled and fired over some fine scores to run out convincing winners. For the past number of years, the size of the squad has been reduced on an annual basis, mainly due to a lack of interest. However, this was not the case in 2005 as 28 players were togged out for that first match. If Brownstown thought they were going to run away with the championship, then they were brought back down to earth in their following match when Turin proved a match for the blues and were unfortunate not to come away with at least a share of the spoils as Brownstown won by 1-5 to 0-7. In the match against Crookedwood, it was a case of backs to the walls for long periods as the eventual champions were well on top for the majority of the match. However, in the final ten minutes, Brownstown produced a gritty performance to come back and snatch a late win on a scoreline of 3-7 to 1-10. On a damp evening in Cusack Park, Cullion provided the opposition. Five points separated the sides at the end as Brownstown maintained their unbeaten run and guaranteed their place in the semi-final with one group match remaining. Southern Gaels provided the opposition and with a number of regulars rested, it was no surprise that the Athlone side won the match. Preparations for the semi-final went well and the management team of John Davis and his selectors Miko Henry and Tommy Smith were confident that a place in the final could be secured. Whether it was complacency or nerves, Brownstown did not perform to the best of their capabilities on the day and Cullion were worthy winners on a scoreline of 1-12 to 1-10. Once again, they will enter the 2006 intermediate championship as one of the favourites for the title, but with neighbours and rivals Delvin making the drop down, their quest to make a return to the top flight will be made all the more harder. Certainly, Brownstown have the players in their possession to annex the intermediate championship this year, but these lads must also have the desire and determination needed to win. For too long excuses have been made that the trainer wasn't good enough or that games are played on the wrong day!! Now is the time to stand up and be counted, if this is the case, the bonfires will return to the Hurler's Rest. Tweet

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